What is the body material of this Stratocaster?

The guitar is constructed with an alder body. This wood is traditionally used by Fender to provide a balanced tonal profile with a signature 'punch'.

What kind of neck profile does the Player II Modified have?

It features a maple neck with a Modern 'C' profile. This shape is designed to be comfortable for a wide variety of playing styles and hand sizes.

Does this model have a rosewood or maple fingerboard?

This specific version comes with a rosewood (RW) fingerboard. It is notably designed with rolled edges to enhance player comfort and facilitate smoother movement across the frets.

What pickups are installed in this guitar?

The guitar uses an HSS configuration. It features a Player II Modified humbucker in the bridge position and Noiseless Strat pickups in the middle and neck positions.

Can the bridge humbucker be split into a single coil?

Yes, the guitar is equipped with a push/pull tone control. This allows the player to split the bridge humbucker to achieve vintage-style single-coil tones.

What type of tuners are used on this model?

The guitar features short post locking tuners. These provide higher tuning stability and make the process of changing strings significantly faster and easier.

What bridge system is included?

It features a 2-point tremolo bridge. This design includes block steel saddles, which are intended to provide better tuning stability and sustain compared to vintage-style 6-screw bridges.

What finish is available on this specific model?

This specific model features a sleek Electric Blue finish. It is paired with a satin-finished neck for a modern aesthetic and feel.

What is the typical price range for this guitar?

The typical price for the Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS is approximately GBP 919. This places it in the premium mid-range category of Fender's catalogue.

How does this compare to the standard Player Series?

The 'Modified' version includes premium upgrades such as Noiseless pickups, locking tuners, and a rosewood fingerboard with rolled edges. These features are generally not standard on basic Player models.

Is this guitar suitable for high-gain music?

Yes, the Player II Modified humbucker in the bridge is designed for articulate, powerful tones. This makes it well-suited for rock and other genres requiring higher output than standard single coils.

Does the guitar suffer from 60-cycle hum?

The neck and middle pickups are Fender's Noiseless models, which are specifically designed to eliminate unwanted hum. The bridge humbucker is also naturally hum-cancelling.

Gear article

Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS RW Electric Blue

The Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS is a contemporary electric guitar designed for versatility and enhanced playability. Featuring an HSS pickup configuration, premium hardware upgrades, and a distinctive Electric Blue finish, it bridges the gap between traditional Fender design and modern performance requirements.

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Overview

The Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS serves as a high-performance evolution of the standard Player series. It is built around a traditional alder body, providing the balanced 'punch' associated with the brand's history. This specific 'Modified' iteration focuses on hardware and electronics upgrades that cater to players requiring higher gain capabilities alongside classic clean tones.

Design and Playability

The guitar features a maple neck with a Modern 'C' profile, finished in satin to prevent sticking during fast transitions. A significant comfort feature is the rosewood fingerboard, which includes rolled edges—a detail typically reserved for higher-tier American-made models. For hardware, the guitar utilises a 2-point synchronised tremolo system equipped with block steel saddles for improved resonance and tuning stability. String maintenance is facilitated by the inclusion of short post locking tuners, which speed up the changing process and improve break angles at the nut.

Electronics and Tonal Character

This model utilises an HSS (Humbucker/Single-coil/Single-coil) pickup layout for maximum tonal range.

Bridge Pickup: A Player II Modified humbucker provides powerful, articulate tones suitable for rock and lead playing.
Middle and Neck Pickups: These are Noiseless Strat pickups, engineered to deliver traditional Fender clarity and 'quack' without the 60-cycle hum inherent in vintage-style single coils.
Versatility: The guitar includes a push/pull tone control that allows the user to split the bridge humbucker. This effectively provides a fourth single-coil sound for vintage-style bridge tones.

Target Audience and Comparisons

The Player II Modified HSS is aimed at gigging musicians and recording artists who need a 'Swiss Army Knife' instrument. While a Squier Mini Stratocaster or a Stagg SES-30BK might suit beginners or younger players, this model provides the professional-grade hardware found in higher-end series like the American Professional II Stratocaster. For those seeking the heavy output of a Jim Root Telecaster but wishing to retain traditional Stratocaster ergonomics and tremolo functionality, this modified HSS layout offers a balanced middle ground.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the body material of this Stratocaster?: The guitar is constructed with an alder body. This wood is traditionally used by Fender to provide a balanced tonal profile with a signature 'punch'.
What kind of neck profile does the Player II Modified have?: It features a maple neck with a Modern 'C' profile. This shape is designed to be comfortable for a wide variety of playing styles and hand sizes.
Does this model have a rosewood or maple fingerboard?: This specific version comes with a rosewood (RW) fingerboard. It is notably designed with rolled edges to enhance player comfort and facilitate smoother movement across the frets.
What pickups are installed in this guitar?: The guitar uses an HSS configuration. It features a Player II Modified humbucker in the bridge position and Noiseless Strat pickups in the middle and neck positions.
Can the bridge humbucker be split into a single coil?: Yes, the guitar is equipped with a push/pull tone control. This allows the player to split the bridge humbucker to achieve vintage-style single-coil tones.
What type of tuners are used on this model?: The guitar features short post locking tuners. These provide higher tuning stability and make the process of changing strings significantly faster and easier.
What bridge system is included?: It features a 2-point tremolo bridge. This design includes block steel saddles, which are intended to provide better tuning stability and sustain compared to vintage-style 6-screw bridges.
What finish is available on this specific model?: This specific model features a sleek Electric Blue finish. It is paired with a satin-finished neck for a modern aesthetic and feel.
What is the typical price range for this guitar?: The typical price for the Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS is approximately GBP 919. This places it in the premium mid-range category of Fender's catalogue.
How does this compare to the standard Player Series?: The 'Modified' version includes premium upgrades such as Noiseless pickups, locking tuners, and a rosewood fingerboard with rolled edges. These features are generally not standard on basic Player models.
Is this guitar suitable for high-gain music?: Yes, the Player II Modified humbucker in the bridge is designed for articulate, powerful tones. This makes it well-suited for rock and other genres requiring higher output than standard single coils.
Does the guitar suffer from 60-cycle hum?: The neck and middle pickups are Fender's Noiseless models, which are specifically designed to eliminate unwanted hum. The bridge humbucker is also naturally hum-cancelling.